Program Overview

Introduction to the BSBA with Finance Emphasis

The BSBA, Finance Emphasis degree is a 120-credit hour program that requires at least 48-credit hours in business courses, with a minimum of 18-credit hours in Finance courses. The core business classes include financial and managerial accounting, legal environment of business, information systems concepts, business analytics and statistics, supply chain management, financial management, management and organizational behavior, marketing and strategic management.

Program Structure

Once the required courses are completed, students can customize their degree with business electives, even selecting a minor if desired. The finance curriculum prepares students for careers in corporate financial management and the financial services industry.

Certification Tracks

Within the BSBA, Finance Emphasis, the department offers six Certification tracks that allow students to focus their studies in specialized areas of finance and pursue various industry certifications. These tracks include:

• Corporate Finance
• Financial Institutions and Markets
• Financial Planning
• Financial Technology
• Investment and Portfolio Management
• Risk and Insurance

Corporate Finance Track

This track trains students to make business financial decisions, including raising and investing capital, long and short-term financial plans, and dealings with stockholders, bondholders, other creditors, customers, and regulators. Students must complete five courses from a list that includes:

• ACCTNG 3401: Financial Accounting & Reporting 1
• ACCTNG 3402: Financial Accounting & Reporting 2
• FINANCE 3501: Financial Policies
• FINANCE 3503: Computer Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3521: Financial Engineering--Applying Derivatives
• FINANCE 3523: Fixed Income Analysis
• FINANCE 3524: Advanced Investment Management
• FINANCE 3540: Introduction to Financial Institutions and Financial Markets
• FINANCE 3570: Essentials of Fintech
• FINANCE 3576: Blockchain in Business
• FINANCE 3580: International Corporate Finance

Financial Institutions and Markets Track

Financial institutions design and deliver financial products and services to businesses, governments, and individuals. This track prepares students for careers in commercial and investment banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, real estate firms, trust, and wealth management firms, among others. Students must complete 15-credit hours of elective courses from a list that includes:

• FINANCE 3503: Computer Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3521: Financial Engineering--Applying Derivatives
• FINANCE 3540: Introduction to Financial Institutions and Financial Markets
• FINANCE 3541: Commercial Bank Management
• FINANCE 3542: Principles of Real Estate
• FINANCE 3545: Venture Capital and Private Equity
• FINANCE 3560: Practice of Personal Financial Planning
• FINANCE 3561: Principles of Insurance
• FINANCE 3570: Essentials of Fintech
• FINANCE 3572: Financial Data Programming
• FINANCE 3574: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3576: Blockchain in Business

Financial Planning Track

The Financial Planning Track prepares students to counsel individuals on personal financial matters and family businesses. This curriculum is a registered program with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., enabling students who complete it to sit for their certification examination. Students must complete the following courses:

• ACCTNG 3441: Income Taxes
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3560: Practice of Personal Fin Planning
• FINANCE 3561: Principles of Insurance
• FINANCE 3563: Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
• FINANCE 3564: Estate Planning and Trusts
• FINANCE 3565: Seminar in Financial Planning

Financial Technology Track

Fintech (financial technology) revisits financial disciplines as a rapidly evolving field, including corporate finance, financial markets, financial institutions, investments, real estate, and derivatives using a common thread of technology. This track introduces students to the major areas of fintech, including blockchain, cryptocurrencies, fintech credit, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural network, robo Advisers, and algorithmic trading. Students must complete the first two required courses and three additional courses from a list that includes:

• FINANCE 3503: Computer Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3521: Financial Engineering: Applying Derivatives
• FINANCE 3524: Advanced Investment Management
• FINANCE 3570: Essentials of Fintech
• FINANCE 3572: Financial Data Programming
• FINANCE 3574: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3576: Blockchain in Business

Investment and Portfolio Management Track

Each year, billions of dollars flow into retirement plans and mutual funds. These funds, in turn, are invested in securities markets worldwide to provide the owners the best returns given their risk thresholds. Professional portfolio managers have the responsibility of meeting investor goals subject to rapidly changing market conditions. This track prepares students for a challenging career in investment management. Students must complete five courses from a list that includes:

• ACCTNG 3401: Financial Accounting & Reporting 1
• ACCTNG 3402: Financial Accounting & Reporting 2
• FINANCE 3503: Computer Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3521: Financial Engineering--Applying Derivatives
• FINANCE 3523: Fixed Income Analysis
• FINANCE 3524: Advanced Investment Management
• FINANCE 3525: Practicum in Investments
• FINANCE 3540: Introduction to Financial Institutions and Financial Markets
• FINANCE 3582: International Investments
• FINANCE 3570: Essentials of Fintech
• FINANCE 3572: Financial Data Programming
• FINANCE 3574: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Finance
• FINANCE 3576: Blockchain in Business

Risk and Insurance Track

Insurance plays an essential role in risk management for individuals and businesses. This program covers life insurance, property/casualty insurance, and the administration of pension and employee benefit plans. After completing the program, students may seek analytical staff positions in insurance companies or become consultants, insurance agents, brokers, employee benefits specialists, and risk managers. The program will also prepare students for prestigious professional certification programs such as the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and others. Students may transfer up to three equivalent courses taken within five years to The American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, which grants the CLU and ChFC designations. This track requires taking five courses from a list that includes:

• ACCTNG 3441: Income Taxes
• FINANCE 3503: Computer Apps in Finance
• FINANCE 3520: Investments
• FINANCE 3560: Practice of Personal Financial Planning
• FINANCE 3561: Principles of Insurance
• FINANCE 3562: Life Insurance and Employee Benefits
• FINANCE 3563: Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
• FINANCE 3564: Estate Planning and Trusts

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the BSBA, Finance Emphasis, will be prepared to enter the workforce and succeed locally and globally across various industries. Career opportunities include:

• Actuary
• Banker - Commercial & Investment
• Corporate Resource Manager
• Financial Advisor
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Planner
• Insurance Risk Manager
• Investment Manager
• Market Analyst
• Mutual Fund Manager
• Stock Broker
• Trust/Wealth Manager

About the Ed G. Smith College of Business

The BSBA, Finance Emphasis, is earned through the internationally recognized Ed G. Smith College of Business, ranked among the top 2 percent of business schools globally thanks to dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. The college offers a state-of-the-art facility with smart classrooms, cutting-edge seminar rooms, group learning environments, community spaces, and a real-time stock ticker. The college also hosts frequent career fairs, including career-specific opportunities and internships, and engages students in service-learning opportunities.

Faculty and Research

The finance faculty hold PhDs or advanced degrees from major US universities with extensive industrial experience. As active researchers, faculty are on the cutting edge of new developments in their fields. The Academic Analytics Scholarly Research Index (SRI) recently ranked the department in the top 16 nationwide.

Conclusion

The BSBA with Finance Emphasis at the University of Missouri-St. Louis provides students with a comprehensive education in finance, preparing them for successful careers in the financial services industry. With its strong faculty, research opportunities, and state-of-the-art facilities, the Ed G. Smith College of Business is an excellent choice for students pursuing a degree in finance.